Vacuum

Pumps
Department Editor: Kate Torzewski

V
acuum is any system of reduced Figure 1. Liquid-Ring Pump Figure 2. Rotary-Claw Pump Figure 3.
pressure, relative to local Rotary-
(typically atmospheric) pressure. Lobe
Achieved with a pump, vacuum Pump
systems are commonly used to:
Source: Kurt
• Remove excess air and J. Lesker Co.
its constituents
• Remove excess reactants or Figure 4. Rotary-Screw Pump
unwanted byproducts
• Reduce the boiling point
• Dry solute material
• Create a pressure differential for
initiating transport of material
Liquid-ring and dry pumps offer the
most advantages for the chemical
process industries (CPI). Both of
Source: Medical Gas Info Source: Gardner Denver Source: Kurt J. Lesker Co.
these pump types have bearings
Hanover, Inc.
sealed off from the pumping cham-
ber and do not require any internal toward the discharge side of the void space between the rotors and Rotary Screw. Two long helical
lubrication because the rotors do pump, the pockets decrease in pump housing. On the next rotation, rotors in parallel rotate in opposite
not contact the housing. Both, when size, and the evacuated gas is com- that same trapped sample of gas is directions without touching, syn-
employing a coolant system, prevent pressed, enabling its discharge. compressed and discharged as the chronized by helical timing gears
the coolant from contacting the pro- The ring of liquid not only acts as discharge port opens. (Figure 4). Gas flow moves axially
cess fluid and causing contamina- a seal; it also absorbs the heat of A minimum of three stages in along the screw without any internal
tion, and both use mechanical shaft compression, friction and condensa- series is required to achieve pres- compression from suction to dis-
seals for containment. tion. Popular liquid choices include sures comparable to those of an charge. Pockets of gas are trapped
water, ethylene glycol, mineral oil oil-sealed mechanical pump. Some within the convolutions of the rotors
and organic solvents. dry designs use two technologies in and the casing, and transported to
liquid-ring pumps combination; for example, a rotarly the discharge. Compression occurs
dry pumps lobe as a booster for a claw pump. at the discharge port, where the
In the cylindrical body of the pump, trapped gas must be discharged
a sealant fluid under centrifugal Rotary-claw, rotary-lobe and Rotary Lobe. The rotary-lobe pump
against atmospheric pressure. Each
force forms a ring against the inside rotary-screw pumps dominate as (Figure 3) is typically used as a me-
convolution of the rotor acts similarly
of the casing (Figure 1). dry pumps in the CPI, particularly in chanical booster operating in series
to a stage in series with the one be-
The source of that force is a larger-size pump applications. with an oil-sealed piston or vane
hind it; at least three convoluted gas
multi-bladed impeller whose shaft Rotary Claw. The geometric shape pump to boost pumping capacity at
pockets in the rotor are required to
is mounted so as to be eccentric to of this pump allows for a greater low pressures. achieve acceptable vacuum levels.
the ring of liquid. Because of this compression ratio to be taken This pump consists of two sym-
eccentricity, the pockets bounded across the rotors at higher pressures metrical two-lobe rotors mounted on
by adjacent impeller blades (also (Figure 2). Two claw rotors rotate separate shafts in parallel, which References
called buckets) and the ring increase in opposite directions of rotation rotate in opposite directions to each 1. Vilbert, P., Mechanical Pumps for
Vacuum Processing, Chem. Eng.
in size on the inlet side of the pump, without touching, using timing gears other at high speeds.Timing gears
October 2004, pp. 44–51.
and the resulting suction continually to synchronize the rotation.The gas are used to synchronize the rotation 2. Aliasso, J., Choose the Right
draws gas out of the vessel being enters through an inlet port after it of the lobes to provide constant Vacuum Pump, Chem. Eng. March
evacuated. As the blades rotate has been uncovered and fills the clearance between the two. 1999, pp. 96–100.

Advantages Disadvantages
• 
Simpler design; employs only one rotating assembly •M  ixing of the evacuated gas with
Liquid-Ring Vacuum Pumps

• Can be fabricated from any castable metal the sealing fluid

• Minimal noise and vibration •R  isk of cavitation requires a portion
• Little increase in the temperature of the discharged gas of process load to be noncondens-
• No damage from liquid or small particulates in the process fluid able under operating conditions
• Maintenance and rebuilding are simple •H  igh power requirement to form and
• Slow rotational speed (1,800 rpm or less), maximizing operating life maintain the liquid ring, resulting in
• Can use any type of liquid for the sealant fluid in situations where min- large motors
gling with the process vapor is permissible • Achievable vacuum is limited by the
• No lubricating liquid in the vacuum chamber to be contaminated vapor pressure of sealant fluid at
• Accommodation of both condensable vapors and noncondensables, the operating temperature
while operating as both a vacuum pump and condenser •P  ower consumption
•R  ugged rotor design, constructed of sturdy cast or ductile iron without •C annot handle particulate matter,
any flimsy rotating components nor large slugs of liquid
Dry Vacuum Pumps

• Noncontact design facilitated by timing gears •M ay require a silencer

• High rotational speed reduces the ratio of gas slip to displacement, •M ay discharge gases at high
increases net pumping capacity and reduces ultimate pressure temperatures
• Multiple staging provides inlet pressures below 1-mm Hg absolute while • Most difficult to repair or rebuild
discharging to atmosphere •M ay require a gas purge for cooling,
• No contamination of evacuated gas or to protect the bearings and seals
• Due to lack of condensation, pump can be fabricated of standard, from the process gas
inexpensive cast iron •D ue to high operating temperatures,
some process gases may polymerize